Two-wheeled vehicle



(No Model.)

A. L. LAY. TWO WHEELED VEHICLE.

No; 403,354. Patented May 14,, 1889.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ABNER LEE LAY, OF BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN.

TWO-WHEELED VEHICLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 403,354, dated May 14,1889.

Application filed September 6, 1888. Serial No. 284,669. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ABNER LEE LAY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Battle Creek, in the county of Calhoun and State ofMichigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inTwo-WVheeled Vehicles, of which the following is a specification,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein like lettersand figures of reference designate corresponding parts in all the views.I

The object sought to be accomplished by the use of my present inventionis the provision of a light, strong, convenient, compact, andeasy-riding roadcart or two-wheeled vehicle in the cheapest and mostdurable form possible; and I reach these results by means of the noveldevices and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth, as follows:

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of mynew two-wheeled vehicle with one wheel removed. Fig. 2 is a rear endview of the same. Fig. represents an enlarged view, detached, of aportion of the axle, showing my improved means for firmly attachingvertical circular spiral springs to the axle by means of a yoke andclip, with the inner portion of the said springs in proper positionbound by the yoke to the back of the axle. Fig. 4 shows a modificationof my improved means for employing vertical springs where but a singlespring for each body-bar of the vehicle is used, and also showing themanner of using my novel equalizer for the attachment of theforwardlyprojecting uppermost end of the spring to the body-bar of thevehicle. Fig. 5 represents an inside face view of my new yoke for firmlyfixing the springs to the axle; and Figs. 6 and 7 are vertical and endviews of the same, respectively, detached.

A represents the vehiclewwheel.

B is the thills, and O the cross-bar thereof.

D D are the body-bars of the vehicle, which I prefer to suspend from thecross-bar G by means of a swinging joint, although they might befulcrumed thereto by any elastic attachment instead.

0 is the yoke or clamp, provided with perforated ears 3 s, risingcentrally from the opposite edges thereof, the perforationscorresponding in diameter with the threaded ends of the well-known clipused and of a distance apart or between the holes equal to the size ofthe axle, so as to allow the said yoke and clip to closely clasp thesaid axle a.

On either side of the yoke center and flush with its inside face areseen the semicircular vertical channels a-a, with which thevertical-shanks of the springs a a engage. These channels are of a depthsomewhat less than the diameter of the spring-shanks, in order that theyoke and embracing clip-bolts may the more firmly bind the springs tothe back of the axle.

Forwardly-projecting lugs f f, with which the under outermost end of theyoke C is provided, pass forwardly. immediately underneath the axle andserve to hold the yoke prone therewith. The springs are preferably,because most cheaply and durably, made of round. rods of spring-steelbent in circular spiral form and of dimensions suitable for the purposeaccording to the number employed. I prefer to use the springs inpairstwo for each body-bar of the vehicle-ah though a single spring to abody-bar may be made to answera good purpose, asillustrated in Fig. 4.To make one of these springs, I take a steel rod and bend it in circularform, the circle increasing in diameter as it is bent, forming a spiral,turning its inner end so as to nearly cross the center of the circlethus formed. Its remaining end is now abruptly bent downward at a rightangle and fitted to the top, back, and bottom of the axle, the extremeend underneath the axle projecting forward longitudinally of the vehicleequal to the projections of the adjacent lugs f f of the yoke 0', thusfirmly fixing the spring to the axle, so that it cannot lift up, whilethe yoke and clip bind it tightly to the axle-back. As will be seen, thespring fulcrumed rests broadly on the entire top surface of the axle,then passing down in front thereof, and underneath the spring risesrearward in an increasing circle up over the axle to a point immediatelybelow the body-bar of the vehicle, where its forward end is bent in theform of an eye for the purpose of receiving a transverse bolt, by whichmeans this end of the spring is adjustably and pivotally attached to thebody in the manner now to be described.

Directly above the spring-eye, when in position just seen, are situatedthe descending sides of the basket part or body-bars D .l) of thevehicle. These body-bars are here provided with a series of transverseholes, from which depend, by means of a removable pivotal bolt, thelinks or equalizers r 7', now to be described, and their important usespointed out.

The equalizer is a strap of iron bent in the form of an open link, its.ends provided with transverse holes for the purpose of pivotallyattaching the equalizer-top to the body-barD and its bottom to thesprings a a in manner following: lhe open end of the link or equalizer7' engages on either side of the bar I) by any one of the series ofholes thereof and a removable bolt, so as to form a longitudinalswinging joint at this point for the equalizer or vertical support,whereby the riders seat may be elevated or depressed. The opposite anddepending end of the equalizer engages with the upperforwardly-projecting ends of the vertical springs, as shown, whereby theequalizers have a longitudinal vibration, at the same time that theelasticity of the springs secures a similar lateral motion in obedienceto the inequalities of the road traveled over and weight carried, andwhereby, also, the

horse motion, so called, and other obstructions to a steady right lineof the riders seat is reduced to a minimum, while the riders seat isthus regulated, elevated, or depressed without in any manner alteringthe tension of the spring, and the spring-fulcrum, resting, as it does,on the entire upper surface of the axle, relieves the great strain,heretofore wholly 011 one point, and distributes it throughout theentire coil of the springs, whereby the maximum of strength andconsequent durability of the vehicle is assured, as is evident.

Having thus fully illustrated and described mynovel invention andpointed out its peculiar features and advantages, what I claim, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a two-wheeled vehicle, the thills, bodybars having their forwardends fulcrumed thereon, and the axle, in combination with coil-springs,the lower extremities of which are secured to said axle, andvertically-adjustable 11orizontally-vibrating links or rods connectingsaid springs with the body-bars.

2. In a two-wheeled vehiele, the axle, thills, and seat, in combinationwith body-bars having series of perforations and fulcrumed at theirforward extremities on said thills, coilsprings, one extremity of eachof which is se cured to the axle, and depending verticallyadjustablehorizontally-vibrating rods, one

extremity of each of which is secured to the bod y-bar at any of thepoints of perforations thereof and its opposite end secured to the upperforward extremity of one of the coilsprings, all substantially as andfor the purposes herein set forth.

3. In a two-wheeled vehicle, the axle, thills, and seat, in combinationwith coiled supporting-springs, one extremity of each of which issecured to said axle and its opposite formed as an eye, body-bars havingseries of perforations and fulcrumed at their forward extremities onsaid thills, and depending equalizerlinks having perforated extremities,pins or bolts for securing said extremities, respectively, to thebody-bars at the points of perforations thereof and to the forwardextremities of the coil-springs, for the purposes set forth.

4:. In a two-wheeled vehicle, the axle, thills, and seat, in combinationwith bent body-bars having series of perforations and fulcrumed at theirforward extremities on said thills, coiled supporting-springs, oneextremity of each of which is secured to the axle and its oppositeformed as an eye, vertically-adjustable longitudin ally-vibrating links,the upper extremities of which are formed to embrace opposite sides ofthe body-bars and are secured thereto at the points of perforationsthereof by bolts or pins, and the lower extremities of which are formedto receive the eyes on the ends of the coil-springs and are securedthereto by pins or bolts, yokes provided with vertical channels for thepassage of the coil-springs, and a clasp for firmly securing saidsprings to the axle, all substantiall y as and for the purposes hereinset forth.

5. In a two-wheeled vehicle, the axle a, the thills B, and cross-barC,the body-bar D, provided with the adjustable link or equalizer 1', thecircular springs a a, and the yoke 0, provided with semicircularchannels a a, lugs ff, and perforated ears 3 s, for attaehin g saidsprings to the axle by means of a clip or embracing-clamp, substantiallyas and for the purposes illustrated and described.

6. As a new article of manufacture, a clasp for fastening verticalcircular springs to the axles of vehicles, consisting of the clip andits engaging-yoke O, the latter provided with vertical channels a a,lugs f and perforated ears .9 s, constructed,combined, and usedsubstantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I hereunto affix my name in thepresence of two attesting witnesses.

ABNER LEE LAY.

VVi tn ess es:

NELSON E. HUBBARD, II. H. HUBBARD.

